The right of access to comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is grounded in fundamental human rights and is a means to empower young people to protect their health, well-being and dignity. This Operational Guidance sets out UNFPA’s framework for CSE, which is one of five prongs to UNFPA‘s Adolescent and Youth Strategy. This document guides UNFPA’s support to governments and other partners as CSE programmes, both in and out of school, are designed, implemented and evaluated. Building on current standards, it outlines steps to identify priorities, implement actions and evaluate outcomes – providing country-specific examples, tools for programme managers and technical advisers.

The Operational Guidance is founded on scientific evidence, international human rights conventions and agreed upon technical standards. It promotes a common definition of CSE, which is associated with best practices and promoted by our key partners in this area. It highlights the fundamental principles of CSE and elaborates on its essential components. In addition, the Operational Guidance presents and defines four key intervention areas to strengthen the implementation of UNFPA-supported national sexuality education programmes and identifies pathways for building greater capacity within the organization.